The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Ruth ultimately became an ancestor of the messiah see genealogy of jesus, mt 1. Indeed, the book of ruth is a fresh breath of air after reading judges. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth,andrew wilson, alastair robert study from the bible and be encouraged to grow your faith. The only other biblical book bearing the name of a woman is esther. Ruth 1 new international version niv naomi loses her husband and sons. This was a country not far from israel on the east side of the dead sea. Top 5 commentaries on the book of ruth ligonier ministries. The first verse of the book points to the time of the judges and the very last verse points to king david.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. An extensive, if somewhat technical, commentary on the book of ruth, but. And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. The genealogy at the end of the book shows davids lineage through the days of the judges, acting as a support for his rightful kingship. This commentary by frederic bush on ruth and esther is one of the best in the typically superb word biblical commentary series. The book of ruth is an important historical work in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible, as it traces the lineage of king david and ultimately that of the messiah, jesus christ. My aim is to preach through the book of ruth in the next four sundaysone chapter each. The final words of the book link ruth with her greatgrandson, david ruth 4. The book of ruth connects the book of judges with the books of samuel. She took care not to lose time, for she gleaned until evening. We must not be weary of welldoing, because in due season we shall reap. This book is an attempt to combine the various elements and styles of different types of study aids into one resource to facilitate the biblical exposition and application of the book of ruth. Let us work the works of him that sent us, while it is day.
Ruth most likely comes from a moabite andor hebrew word meaning friendship. Ruth, esther word biblical commentary, volume 9 wbc. The story is set in the time of the judges, a time characterized in the book of judges as a period of religious and. It reads more like a short story and the insight in it runs deep. Because of a famine in israel, a hebrew family moved to moab. The book of ruth follows the book of judges in our bibles because its setting was in that time period. The book illustrates the lords faithfulness to those who love him like naomi and ruth. Sep 29, 2015 this commentary by frederic bush on ruth and esther is one of the best in the typically superb word biblical commentary series.
You will also find options for commentaries on ruth that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. The timeline of this book is intertwined during the period of the judges. Whatever ruth did, it was indeed a daring and dangerous maneuver on her part. Ruth 4 the marriage of boaz and ruth enduring word. The first chapter of the book of ruth is a very important one. Intro to ruth biblica the international bible society. T he book of ruth contains an interesting story about a moabite woman who was redeemed into a hebrew family.
And in those chapters we saw the godly man from bethlehem named boaz being very kind. The book of ruth is the narrative of a love story, yet also has some important genealogy. Study the narratives of these books by drawing on bushs knowledge of ancient near eastern customs, languages, and hebrew narrative and poetry to illuminate the meaning of these books, and the development and transmission of each books textual witnesses. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of ruth. Ruth 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Free bible commentary on book of ruth in easy english. The book is named after one of its main characters, a young woman of moab, the greatgrandmother of david and an ancestress of jesus 4. The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to it. Best ruth commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Ruth was a moabite woman, whose sense of piety and devotion to her motherinlaw naomi led to her marriage to the prominent boaz of bethlehem in judah. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. David guziks bible commentary on ruth chapter 1, where ruth makes the journey with her motherinlaw naomi from the land of moab to the land of israel.
The book of ruth, which appears in the third section of the hebrew bible, ktuvim, writings, is a beautiful folktale written in four short chapters. Understanding the context is critical to understanding this lectionary reading. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post. As we move from the book of judges to the book of ruth, a bright light suddenly shines against the dark backdrop of a morally corrupt time period. Ruth free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. After the death of ruths husband as well as his brother and father, her motherinlaw, naomi, decides to return to her hometown in bethlehem. You can find the best commentary on ruth for you using the tools on the right side. Almost without peer in scripture, this story views god through the eyes of a woman.
Title the book is named after one of its main characters, a young woman of moab, the greatgrandmother of david and an ancestress of jesus 4. When providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. A short commentary, critical and expository, on the book of ruth 89 pages 1884 brief nontechnical comments with a devotional flavor and with potentially helpful sections called hints for lessons see example. When we open to the 3 rd chapter of the book of ruth were coming into the middle of several story lines in the bible. The book of ruth is set during the time when israel was ruled by judges. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic expertise of frederic bush. Ruth with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. James moffatt apparently understood the passage thus, because he translated the words, uncover his waist. The book of ruth tells a touching story of the love and devotion of an ancestor of david and jesus christ. The final words of the book link ruth with her greatgrandson, david ruth. It is set in the time of the judges not the best ones, if we assign it to the period of gideon and samson and it attempts to define the rights of widows and aliens within a society fallen upon hard times. The book may have been written by samuel and was probably penned during the time of david. It is unlikely that it was written before the time of david cp. Kirsten nielsens comments on the book of ruth paint a rich and subtle portrait of its characters, carefully tracing the many connections between this story and other biblical passages, such as the stories of judah and tamar.
The author was anonymous but some believe it was perhaps written by samuel the prophet. The story of ruth offers vital lessons to every generation and has enjoyed nearly universal acceptance by biblical scholars and critics throughout the centuries. The translated bible text has been through advanced checking. This volume is not a detailed exegetical work but rather an expositional commentary, an expository sermon, and a collection of tools to help apply the. Ruth chapter 3 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the. Ruth 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Study the bible online using commentary on ruth 1 and more. Ruth 3 commentary meaning summary sermon explaining the book. To start off, i would suggest that you sit down and read through this beautiful book. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. First obviously were landing in the middle of the book of ruth.
Ruth bible story summary what christians want to know. Ruth, on the other hand, was a gentile woman moabitess who married a hebrew man living in moab. It celebrates the loyalty and reward of a young moabite widow ruth who chooses to follow her israelite motherinlaw naomi back to bethlehem after naomi was bereaved of her own husband and two sons. Ruth 1 niv naomi loses her husband and sons in bible. Commentary on the book of ruth by matthew henry old.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ruth. This summary of the book of ruth provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ruth. So a man from bethlehem in judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of moab. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. Best commentaries and books on ruth logos bible software. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. A free bible version and commentary on the book of ruth in easyenglish. Redemption is a key concept throughout the account. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. The book of ruth has always been one of my favorite books of the bible. Its story of gods concern for two widows and of ruths devotion to her motherinlaw and first husband is inspiring and fore.
The story centers on the life of ruth, a moabite woman who married an israelite living in a foreign countrymoab. This summary of the book of ruth provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ruth. In case you are unfamiliar with this series, the scholarship in its various volumes is typically impeccable. It is a groundless tradition of the jews that ruth was the daughter of eglon king of moab, yet the chaldee paraphrast inserts it.
She did not make an excuse to sit still, or go home, till the evening. The nearer kinsman declines his right of redemption. Book of ruth overview insight for living ministries. Obviously, the author was familiar with israels greatest king. Ruth 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Read ruth 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. God used ruth to perpetuate the line of the messiah, the lord jesus christ. The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. Ruth is a book dealing with the providential working of god upon the hand of a woman. Even though its small, this remarkable book contains many principles with profound impact to our lives today.